Weekly expositor. (Brockway Centre, Mich.) 1882-1894, 1887-09-22
of his household, that box ought to be

Barnes" he said in his turn, "will
You ask the duchess il she will be kind
enough to come here for a few minutes
she shall decide
They heard low wall from the
kneeling woman, and each one who
listened thought and believed it to be a
sign of guilt.
Do not let her come" said Mrs.
Grey, "do not send for her."
Poor creature" thought the kindly
housckeeper, / am afraid she is guilty"
The duke answered her kindly.
III think it will be for the best, Mrs.
Grey"
When the door of the tapestry room
opened to admit the duchess, it seemed
as though light, brightness and sunshine
came with her. She looked ut the diff
ferent faces in wonder; she looked at
the kneeling figure and CHASTITY face of
Mrs. Grey with fear. She went straight
up to her, and held out both her hands
TO her; the unhappy woman, with cry
of something like despair, ought the
dress the duchess wore and hid her face
in it.
What is the matterp' asked the
huCiCoo. nCL DCiulllui liCG dil uiSllCoos
"Ycur grace " said Mr. Barton, Il
want permission to break open this box.
Let me state tho matter briefly: your
diamonds have been stolen stolen evil
IDENTIFY, as think, by some one in the
household; they are, believe, hidden
in the no sc. / find here most likely
place for them, and j ask your grace's
permission to open the box. in fairness
to others, in justice to myself"
The duchess turned the light of her
beautiful face to the woman who clutch
ed her dress with such despairing hands;
she laid her white hands on the bowed
head.
''My DEAR" she said, gently, "you
need not mind. Let the box be opened,
l am quite sure that my diamonds are
not there
But Mrs. Grey did not raise her face
with smile, glad of those kindly
words. She bent her head still lower,
she clutched the dress with even more
despairing hands
81 beseech your grace" she cried,
'do not allow it to be done!"
Then Mr.. Barton spoke.
II am so sure" he said, THAT there
is something wrong 1t is through my
penetration and skill we have reached
so far, that if | am not permitted to do
what is right, just and fair, must give
up the case; when the machinery of
justice is set going 1t is not fair to in
terrupt it.
II am quite sure" said the duchess,
calmly, THAT none of my Jewels are
there"
"And T." said Mr.. Barton, ''if your
grace will forgive me for contradicting
you. / am equally certain they are
there.
1.-The only thing is to break it open, I"
said the duke, hurriedly, land so put
an end to this scene. Before the box is
touched, must say that quite agree
with the duchess no diamonds will be
found there"
"For Heavens sake!" cried wailing
voice, then it died away.
Have no fear" said the duchess,
looking down at the kneeling woman;
but the only answer was wall. such as
she had never heard from human lips.
At the first vigorous blow given by
the detective n cry came from the white
lips of Mrs. Grey; il was as though the
blow had been struck upon her heart.
Another and another. Even the
duchess turned her head to see. A
crash, sound of falling wood. little
cry from the duke. and then the detec-
tive tr;umphantly exclaimed:
81 told you So"
What was ftp All the light of the
sun seemed to be drawn into it. The
rays were so brilliant no one could look
at it. Flashing in the sunlight, set in
diamonds. lay the portrait of Lord
Stair When the duchess saw it cry
of surprise broke from her. When the
flash of the diamonds reached Mrs.
Grey, she cried ont in despair. For
some few minutes they all stood in ST.
lenee, wonder-stricken and grieved.
Mr.. Barton took up the shining gems.
"A small, finely painted miniature"
he said, .'set in diamonds. There are,
see, twenty five of the finest water.
The back of the locket is richly worked,
and it is attached to a golden chain.
Your grace, if mistake not, this be-
longs to youP'
The duchess held out her hands and
took it. The sunlight famed and
cleaned, and the rays of light fell over
her fingers. Mrs. Grey raised her head
for one moment. When she saw the
portrait in those white hands she cried
out like one suddenly blinded.
'Does the portrait with the jewels
belong to your grace?" he asked.
And she was compelled to answer,
sadly enough:
II am sor to say that it does. 1t is
mine My father, Lord Stair, gave it
to me"
There was a profound silence for a
few minutes-the silence of pity and
compassion. Still the due hess did not
draw her dress from the clasp of those
despairing hands.
~ here needs no MORE" said MIR.
Barton. "Your grace's diamonds found
secreted in this fashion. l may say
now that from the first / suspected this
woman was a thief"
"Whyp" asked the duke.
Because / saw that which honest
people unaccustomed to such things
would quite fail to see. / saw that she
was here in an assumed character and
in disguise.
els that trueP' cried the duke.
"Ask the lady herself" replied the
detective. al defy her to contradict
me-" and no sound, no whisper of con-
tradiction came from Mrs. Grey.
1t was then that the Duke of Meath
went up to his wife, who still held the
flashing diamonds in her hands.
"Ethel, leave that woman" he said,
sternly. al warned you from the first.
BE pleased" he said, addressing the
crouching, kneeling figure. ''to release
the duchess's Dress" and when he drew